Trump to stand before Congress and offer divided nation an accounting of
his turbulent first weeks
[March 04, 2025]
By ZEKE MILLER
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will stand before a joint
session of Congress on Tuesday to give an accounting of his turbulent
first weeks in office as a divided nation struggles to keep pace, with
some Americans fearing for the country's future while others are
cheering him on.
It will be the latest milestone in Trump’s total takeover of the
nation's capital where the Republican-led House and Senate have done
little to restrain the president as he and his allies work to slash the
size of the federal government and remake America’s place in the world.
With a tight grip on his party, Trump has been emboldened to take
sweeping actions after overcoming impeachments and criminal
prosecutions.
The White House said Trump’s theme would be the "renewal of the American
dream,” and he was expected to lay out his achievements since returning
to the White House, as well as appeal to Congress to provide more money
to finance his aggressive immigration crackdown.
“It’s an opportunity for President Trump, as only he can, to lay out the
last month of record-setting, record-breaking, unprecedented
achievements and accomplishments,” said senior adviser Stephen Miller.
Democrats, many of whom stayed away from Trump’s inauguration in
January, were largely brushing aside calls for boycotts as they struggle
to come up with an effective counter to the president.
Instead, they chose to highlight the impact of Trump's actions by
inviting fired federal workers as guests, including a disabled veteran
from Arizona, a health worker from Maryland and a forestry employee who
worked on wildfire prevention in California. They also invited guests
who would be harmed by steep federal budget cuts to Medicaid and other
programs.
“Rather than focusing on American families and kitchen table issues,
President Trump’s first month in office has focused on tax cuts for
billionaires, paid for by the very people he promised to help,” Senate
Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.
Trump also planned to use his speech to address his proposals for
fostering peace in Ukraine and the Middle East, where he has
unceremoniously upended the policies of the Biden administration in a
matter of just weeks. On Monday, Trump ordered a freeze to U.S. military
assistance to Ukraine, ending years of staunch American support for the
country in fending off Russia's invasion.
Trump was tightening the screws after his explosive Oval Office meeting
Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the U.S. leader
tries to pressure the erstwhile American ally to embrace peace talks
with its invader.
In the Middle East, negotiations to extend a fragile ceasefire between
Israel and Hamas have stalled, with Trump floating the permanent
displacement of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and a U.S. “takeover” of
the territory, straining partnerships with countries in the region and
undoing longtime American support for a two-state solution to end the
Israel-Palestinian conflict.
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The Capitol, Monday, March 3, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia
Demaree Nikhinson)
The backdrop of Trump's speech will also be new economic uncertainty
unleashed after the president opened the day by placing stiff
tariffs on imports from the country’s neighbors and closest trading
partners. A 25% tax on goods from Canada and Mexico went into effect
just after midnight Tuesday — ostensibly to secure greater
cooperation to tackle illicit fentanyl trafficking — triggering
immediate retaliation and sparking fears of a wider trade war. Trump
also raised tariffs on goods from China to 20%.
The whole scene for Trump's speech was a marked contrast to his
final State of the Union address in his first term. Five years ago,
Trump delivered his annual address just after the Senate had
acquitted him during his first impeachment trial and before the
COVID-19 pandemic had taken root across society. Tuesday’s address
is not referred to as a State of the Union because he is still in
the first year of his new term.
The president planned to use his high-profile moment to press his
efforts to reshape the country’s approach to social issues, as he
looks to continue to eradicate diversity, equity and inclusion
efforts across the country and to roll back some public
accommodations for transgender individuals.
Watching from the gallery will be first lady Melania Trump, who only
Monday held her first solo public event since her husband returned
to power. She pushed for passage of a bill to prevent revenge porn,
and her guests in the chamber will include 15-year-old Elliston
Berry, the victim of an explicit deepfake image sent to classmates.
The Democrats' guests also include at least one government watchdog
dismissed by Trump in his bid to emplace loyalists across positions
of influence.
Republicans lawmakers, too, are trying to make a point with their
invited guests.
Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa said she would host Scott Root,
father of the late Sarah Root, who died on the night of her 2016
college graduation in a vehicle crash involving an immigrant who was
in the country without legal authority.
Outside Washington, the latest round of public protest against Trump
and his administration also was unfolding Tuesday. Loosely
coordinated groups planned demonstrations in all 50 states and the
District of Colombia timed to Trump’s address.
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Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Darlene Superville in
Washington and Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report.
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